Rank and file rock band

Formed by brothers Chip and Tony Kinman after they split up their hardcore punk band the Dils who recorded the great L.

Their debut record, Sundown, was a gem of tuneful, Byrds-ian pop, with a healthy dollop of Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard to boot. In fact, the Kinmans were so into cowpunk and so far from their hardcore punk beginnings that they even landed a spot on PBS's revered country music showcase Austin City Limits.

After listening to side one, you knew these guys were done for. Sad, really. In a stunning repudiation of Rank and File's roots rock style, the Kinmans' next project was the execrable Blackbird, an ill-conceived try at synth pop that went a long way toward making them laughingstocks.

Former guitarist Alejandro Escovedo formed the excellent but also short-lived True Believers with his brother Javier, and since their breakup has recorded a number of interesting solo records. Tom began playing piano as a child, switched to trumpet in school bands, then got a guitar—which he never put down.

When they are not playing music, Jeff and Jim are Boeing engineers. Tom is a full-time student in music. All three of them bring total professionalism and fire to the Ranken File! We… Continue reading. Tuesday 3 August Wednesday 4 August Thursday 5 August Friday 6 August Saturday 7 August Sunday 8 August Monday 9 August Tuesday 10 August Wednesday 11 August Thursday 12 August Friday 13 August Saturday 14 August Sunday 15 August Monday 16 August Tuesday 17 August Wednesday 18 August Thursday 19 August Friday 20 August Saturday 21 August Sunday 22 August Monday 23 August Tuesday 24 August Wednesday 25 August Thursday 26 August Friday 27 August Saturday 28 August Sunday 29 August Monday 30 August Tuesday 31 August Wednesday 1 September Thursday 2 September Friday 3 September Saturday 4 September Sunday 5 September Monday 6 September Tuesday 7 September Wednesday 8 September Thursday 9 September Friday 10 September Saturday 11 September Sunday 12 September Monday 13 September Tuesday 14 September Wednesday 15 September Thursday 16 September Friday 17 September Saturday 18 September Sunday 19 September Monday 20 September Tuesday 21 September Wednesday 22 September Thursday 23 September Friday 24 September Saturday 25 September Sunday 26 September Monday 27 September Tuesday 28 September Wednesday 29 September Thursday 30 September Friday 1 October Saturday 2 October Sunday 3 October Monday 4 October Tuesday 5 October Wednesday 6 October Thursday 7 October Friday 8 October Saturday 9 October Sunday 10 October Monday 11 October Tuesday 12 October Wednesday 13 October